I had one cross the road in front of me about dusk a couple years ago. I wasn't sure what it was until it ran up on the embankment on the other side of the road, crouched, and gazed at me ........

I have 4 cats, and as soon as it did that, I knew it was a cat .... and a VERY large one.

It just watched me ride past, and I watched it too ... one eye on the road, and one eye on the cougar. I was a bit nervous for a while after that.